Poddy calves

3 posts
Sun, 04/20/2014 - 20:09 #1

Member for

10 years 8 months
Helen
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 04/19/2014 - 19:23

Poddy calves

Hi everyone,

Love the farming forum. Could someone please help us with a way stop poddy calves sucking each other - we don't wont to put a devise in the nose. Is there anything else we can do to dter them from doing it?

Any advice or assistance would be appreciated.

Helen

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Mon, 04/21/2014 - 20:10 #2
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Helen,

sorry, but the only thing I know of to stop them sucking, is to put  a device clipped onto the nostrils. If you check them out you will see that they just clip onto the middle of the nostrils and don't actually pierce a hole in the nostril like a bull ring does. Other than that, I don't have any idea if there is another way to do it. Perhaps someone else may know of something.

cheers,

Barb

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Tue, 04/29/2014 - 21:17 #3
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi Helen,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the post.

There are only only a few options - separation (of the offender) is the best  as they will 'teach' others to suck. In a small farm situation where there is only a few calves, this is no doubt difficult if there are only say two calves and farmer has a soft spot for animals...

Diversion is another, eg, straight after feeding milk, offer them their meal. Make sure this is quality, highly palatable stuff so that they are attracted and diverted. Also, have really high quality clover hay in behind netting, this is also a good diversion and can provide them hours of suckling interest and of course, a good start to their ruminant development. Make sure hay is good quality (soft, smells good, leafy, high clover content, no mould) and replace daily even if they don't appear to be eating it. Only a little is required so wastage not really a problem. Even after all this there may be problems but this would be a good start.

Another good resource is the book calf rearing a practical guide. http://farmstyle.com.au/book/calf-rearing-practical-guide

Hope this is of assistance. 

Charlie

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